Quand la mer monte... (2004)

Directors:

Yolande Moreau
Gilles Porte

Writers:

Yolande Moreau (writer)
Gilles Porte (writer)

Release Date:

27 October 2004 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Villeneuve D'ascq | Westhoek | Flanders | Spectacle | Lille

Awards:

6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Yolande Moreau	...	Irène
Wim Willaert	...	Dries
Olivier Gourmet	...	Le policier
Jackie Berroyer	...	Le journaliste Béthune
Philippe Duquesne	...	Le patron du café des géants
Jacques Bonnaffé	...	Le serveur de bord de mer
Séverine Caneele	...	La femme de chambre
Bouli Lanners	...	Le patron du marché
Catherine Routier	...	Femme du bord de la route 1
Martine Delanoy	...	Femme du bord de la route 2
Thérèse Flouquet	...	Femme du bord de la route 3
Jan Hammenecker	...	Jan
Vincent Mahieu	...	Yves
Jean-Marie Hardeman	...	Le pilier de bar
Nand Buyl	...	Le père de Dries
Tily	...	Le patron du café des Sports
Isabelle Korber	...	La caissière du Palace
Cyril Lecomte	...	L'homme du théâtre
Jean-François Picotin	...	Fifi
Jacques-Anthony Vienne	...	Le technicien du Palace (as Antony Vienne)
David Gadenne	...	L'organisateur du Palace
Nadine Desmarey	...	La femme du Palais du Littoral
Abdelhakim Azaouagh	...	Le serveur de gaufres
Gilles Defacque	...	Humoriste #1 (as Gilles Deffacques)
Serge Larivière	...	L'artiste #1
Nicole Monnestier	...	La cantatrice
Renaud Rutten	...	L'artiste #2
Bruno Szawelski	...	Le sosie de Johnny
Emmy Leemans	...	La mère de Dries
Alexandre von Sivers	...	Le journaliste de Lille
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
François Morel	...	Le présentateur TV (voice)
Serge Péharpré	...	Un porteur de géant

Directed by
Yolande Moreau
Gilles Porte

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Yolande Moreau		writer
Gilles Porte		writer

Produced by
Humbert Balsan	....	executive producer
Humbert Balsan	....	producer
Catherine Burniaux	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Philippe Rouèche

Cinematography by
Gilles Porte

Film Editing by
Muriel Douvry
Eric Renault

Casting by
Hilde De Zitter
Gerda Diddens

Production Design by
Serge Berkenbaum
Jackie Delevoye
Marc-Philippe Guerig
Alice Retorre

Costume Design by
Nina De Goeyse
Natasha Francotte		(as Natacha Francotte)

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Delesalle	....	makeup artist (as Elisabeth Delesalle)
Ferouz Zaafour	....	makeup artist (as Ferouz)

Production Management
Olivier Michel	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frédéric Alexandre	....	assistant director
Florence Gatineau-Saillant	....	second assistant director
Elodie Gay	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Benoît Biral	....	sound re-recording mixer
Damien Deville	....	sound recordist
Patrick Egreteau	....	foley artist
Steven Ghouti	....	foley mixer
David Gillain	....	sound recordist
Baptiste Kleitz	....	sound effects editor
Baptiste Kleitz	....	sound mixer
Eric Lesachet	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Lesachet	....	supervising sound editor
Renaud Michel	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Olivier de Laveleye	....	special effects
Marie Pierre Franck	....	special effects (as Marie-Pierre Franckx)

Visual Effects by
Nicolas David	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Grégory Bar	....	electrician
Pascal Berceot	....	second assistant camera
Simon Blanchard	....	assistant camera
Nicolas Boucart	....	grip
Marc Debelle	....	second assistant camera
Samy Emery	....	electrician
Pierre Hugues Galien	....	first assistant camera
Cyril Girard	....	electrician
Témoudjine Janssens	....	grip
Rachid Neffati	....	second assistant camera
Marco Spannuet	....	grip
Benoît Theunissen	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Christine Duquesne	....	extras casting
Benjamin Sornin de Leysat	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Meriem Angenard	....	assistant editor
Jean-Marc Grégois	....	color timer
Christine Mancel	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Emmanuel Dehaene	....	additional location assistant
Edwina Fonseca	....	caterer
Dany Lebigot	....	production administrator
Hélène Moreau	....	script supervisor
Héloïse Moreau	....	script supervisor
Tily	....	caterer

Production Companies

• Ognon Pictures
• Stromboli Films
• Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) (co-production)
• Canal+ (participation)
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)
• C.R.R.A.V (participation)

Distributors

• New Yorker Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Pirates Distribution (2004) (France) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Excalibur

Other Companies

• D.C.A.  sound equipment
• Ercidan  titles
• Excalibur  titles and opticals
• GTC  film lab
• Iris Camera  camera equipment
• KGS  grip equipment
• Titra Film Paris  subtitles
• Transpalux  electrical equipment
• YELLOW CAB Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

When the Sea Rises (International: English title) (USA)
Sale affaire (France) (working title)
When the Tide Comes In... (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

France:90 min | Japan:93 min | USA:89 min

Country:

Belgium | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color | Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Armentières, Nord, France

Company:

Ognon Pictures

Quotes:

Irène: You shouldn't introduced me to your parents as your wife.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Humbert Balsan, producteur rebelle (2006) (TV)

The sea rises. The movie-does not

Have you ever felt angry, and I mean infuriated over a movie just because it was lousy? I did. Several times. I was furious at the Waschawski brothers after viewing the incomprehensible Matrix reloaded. I was disdained of Mel Gibson after realizing that Lethal Weapon 4 turned out to be a miserable piece of cinematic, hmmm, bodily secretion. In the past I used to believe that my anger was derived from the fact that I wasted a share of my residual income to watch it. after watching this film I believe I figured out the real reason. I'll get back to that later.

Irene (Yolande Moreau in a Terrific performance) is a comedian doing a one-woman comedy act that runs well all over France. In every show Irene's character,a Middle aged, mask wearing woman chooses a volunteer from the audience to "fall in love with" and to establish a stable future until the end of times or at least until the show is over.

At a certain point, one of the volunteers, a Flemmic guy named Dries (Wim Willaert in a superb performance as well) who, it seems, has a big heart and a not a matching cerebrum, forms a friendship with Irene who, at that point in time, seeks a friendly companion in a lonely business where the vast majority of the conversations with one's loved ones, are done over the phone.

Time goes on and the evolved friendship continues. Irene tours in some other location and continues her fling with Dries, finding comfort in their childish behavior and conversations that are comprised of life altering declarations like "Life with you is nice".

If you want to get the hang of the film, read the last paragraph about six more times. Consecutively.

Throughout the film a thought had entered my mind: Why this film was made in the first place? The script has a few good moments but no climax of any kind, the plot is close to non-existent, the romance between Irene and Dries stagnates on most parts and even the seemingly funny comedy act of Irene doesn't garner any laughs from those who are located outside the movie.

That's what I find to be so insulting. Bad movies were made and will continue to be made, I know that every time I purchase a ticket. What I DO expect to see in every movie made is a story, a detailed turn of events designed to leave the viewer awe inspired or at least entertained. I'm sure there was a reason why Yolande Moreau chose this film to be her directorial debut but I just haven't figured out what that reason might be.

This film has its perks, though, and a major plus of this film, aside from the great acting, is the look on the french quaint little cities that are not part of the France tourist guide. 70 million tourists visit this country every year and they leave thinking that France is either Suave-Paris or sun Laden Riviera. This movie shows, and shows well, the France beyond the postcards.

This portrait of France for some reason, left quite the impression that the main story failed to leave. If you ever came out of a restaurant feeling that the good dressing was wasted on a poorly made steak, than you know how I felt at the end of this movie.

4 out of 10 in My FilmOmeter.